A powerful Team BikeExchange-Jayco women’s squad head to the mid-week Classic race, Nokere Koerse on Wednesday, with multiple options, looking for an aggressive race and their first European victory of the season.
Santos Festival of Cycling Criterium winner Georgia Baker, Tour de l’Ardeche stage winner Teniel Campbell, recent fifth place finisher at GP Oetingen Arianna Fidanza, and experienced Dutch rider Nina Kessler provide the team with different cards to play in the finale with a race parcours that favours their abilities.
Rounding-out the six-rider squad will be a strong support riders, also ready to take their opportunities with an aggressive racing style, in fellow Australian’s Jess Allen and Alex Manly.
The 125.9km typical Belgian one-dayer, weaves itself in and out of narrow, twisty roads and cobble sectors, beginning with a 70km opening loop before turning onto a small local circuit for two laps of around 28km. The race covers 15 cobble sectors and over 800m of elevation but often concludes with a reduced bunch sprint.
Team BikeExchange-Jayco at Nokere Koerse:
Georgia Baker (AUS)
Teniel Campbell (TTO)
Arianna Fidanza (ITA)
Nina Kessler (NED)
Alex Manly (AUS)
Jess Allen (AUS)
Teniel Campbell
“I was fifth in this race in 2019 and I haven’t raced it since then, however I feel really calm and relaxed heading into the race on Wednesday and I trust my teammates and the strength of this team lining-up.
I’m coming into the race with an opportunistic role to set it up for one of my teammates leading into the final or to take the chance when it presents itself to write the race and put the team on the front foot.
We have what it takes and I believe that the win we are all yearning for will come.”
Martin Vestby – Head Sport Director
“We can be opportunistic and go into the race open minded with Baker, Campbell, Fidanza and Kessler suited to the race, and we have Allen and Manly as really good and important support riders.
I expect breakaways to go and a hectic race with the sprinter’s teams try to control things. The weather and wind might play a big role in the race outcome, it is a typical Belgian race and cobble sectors and we go into the race open minded for many senarios.”
2022 Nokere Koerse Race Details:
Wednesday, 16th March: Nokere Koerse, 125.9km
Photo: Getty Images